BMW i3

unkel · 01-02-2020 11:18pm #1

There are some other threads about the i3, but most are old now and not relevant to what I need to know. Hence the new thread!

Seriously thinking of getting an i3 as my second car. My classic Mercedes is up for sale and I'm thinking of putting my Porsche into storage for a few years

I rarely need 2 cars, so I'm not going to spend a lot of money on one. The almost zero running costs of an EV help here, but the car must be relatively cheap to buy, under €10k. I'm only interested in pure EVs

I like the thought of the BMW i3. Range is not that important to me. The 18.8kWh available will do me, even a bit less. The one requirement that I have is that it can swallow a mountainbike. Preferable whole. Is it really this easy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjx50lIMNRA

If you know of any cheap i3 for sale anywhere (must be very cheap), let me know. I don't mind a car that's a bit rough, has some minor issues and / or has high mileage and a degraded battery

Any thoughts?

stesaurus · 01-02-2020 11:30pm

Keep an eye on Wilsons, there's actual a Rex there next week:
https://www.wilsonsauctions.com/lots/car?id=1517159&catId=1211&isIreland=true&tab=&lotPageNo=1&returnUrl=https:%2F%2Fwww.wilsonsauctions.com%2Fauctions%2Fcar%2FAuctionEvent%3FsaleCode%3D201007%26location%3DDublin%26pageSize%3D20%26regNumber%3D152LH435

unkel · 01-02-2020 11:33pm

Yeah, an i3 (BEV) sold a week or two ago at either Wilsons or Windsor for €9k. That re-ignited my idea for getting one.

stesaurus · 01-02-2020 11:39pm

At that price, well worth it

unkel · 01-02-2020 11:41pm

I think it was a bit rough, but yes a decent price. Pity that you'd have to pay nearly a grand on top of that to the auction house. I'd rather buy in a private sale if I could avoid that.

punisher5112 · 01-02-2020 11:42pm

Thought there was meant to be an expensive issue with the generator.... Could be wrong but you would want to be making sure all in good order.

unkel · 01-02-2020 11:45pm

One of the reasons I do not want an i3 with a petrol engine. Pure EV for me please!

The REx is considerably slower (0-60 in nearly 8s instead of just over 6s), there's the maintenance and all the things that can go wrong. The extra tax. And far smaller savings on the M50 toll. I got rather used to paying just 58c for crossing it in my Ioniq, saved €300 last year and that was just for social trips

User1998 · 01-02-2020 11:56pm

Wilsons seem to have an i3 every week. Might be worth ringing a few BMW dealers, surely there being traded in and thats why there ending up in auction?

peposhi · 02-02-2020 1:32am

Cross13’s Beemer is for sale... have you checked with him?

unkel · 02-02-2020 2:03am

I have. It's a REx and it is very high spec, so not the car I want and it wouldn't be in my budget.

Gumbo · 03-02-2020 3:26pm

I'm not sure a bike will go in full Unkel?

Although, ive never tried it!

I will keep an eye on the i3 FB group.

unkel · 03-02-2020 3:29pm

kceire wrote: »

I'm not sure a bike will go in full Unkel?

Did you watch the vid? He makes it look very easy. Not sure what size the bike is though or if he dropped the saddle down.

punisher5112 · 03-02-2020 5:02pm

Get a foldable bike or quick release front wheel.

uphillonly · 03-02-2020 6:24pm

kceire wrote: »

I'm not sure a bike will go in full Unkel?.

I can fit 2 road bikes in on top of each other in our i3 with front wheels off. Done it a few times. Put an old blanket between frames.

The back seats down storage space appears better than the figures suggest due to completely flat loading.

Gumbo · 03-02-2020 6:28pm

unkel wrote: »

Did you watch the vid? He makes it look very easy. Not sure what size the bike is though or if he dropped the saddle down.

For some reason the video didn't appear in the post earlier. Must be something to do with the work firewall. Same as cross13's post during the week his Tesla order picture didn't appear.

See it now, so I guess that's that question answered

Ryath · 03-02-2020 8:34pm

unkel wrote: »

Did you watch the vid? He makes it look very easy. Not sure what size the bike is though or if he dropped the saddle down.

You can fit a road bike wheels on in nearly any hatchback I had 3 once in the back of a Fabia!

Don't think he dropped the saddle frame looks around a medium. 54/56cm frame. Road bikes are a nice bit more compact all round that a mtb for same frame size. Wheelbase is longer, bottom bracket is higher and handle bars are much wider. I'd say a large frame mtb would still fit in the i3 may be tight and need some wiggling. Easy pop of front wheel and lower saddle though if you have quick releases. If you have hydraulic brakes get a shim to put between the pads.

It's why I need a massive boot and a tow bar option for a bike rack when the boot is full as I can't fold the seats and leave the kids at home yet!

Diseased toe · 19-11-2020 1:16pm

Can I ask peoples thiughts in this price wise?

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/I3/fpa/202008252894151

Would i better sourcing in the UK?

unkel · 19-11-2020 5:09pm

I don't know anything about the specs on these, maybe that is a particular car that you want? Otherwise €30k for a 2018 i3 94Ah seems a lot of money when you can buy a brand new 2021 i3 120Ah with far more range from just €36k

Patser · 19-11-2020 5:14pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

Can I ask peoples thiughts in this price wise?

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/I3/fpa/202008252894151

Would i better sourcing in the UK?

That's a fairly max specced i3 there - sunroof, Harmann Karmann speakers, and white leather interior are all really desirable in such a car - I love my sunroof, and miss not having better speakers.

Only thing 'wrong' is that they are fairly basic looking wheels.

Price wise - that's about right for Ireland. You could get a 120ah i3s for about that price but with a much more basic interior. In theory it would be cheaper to import from UK - but from experience at possibly upgrading my 60ah i3 I've found very few new (2018 onwards) have sunroofs, and also if you are set on a REX you have to factor in some sort of VRT payment.

Edit - just rechecking ad, and maybe it os a bit high. It has older BMW system on screen, newer one is much nicer but only launched in late 2019 I think.

unkel · 19-11-2020 5:25pm

I wouldn't get a REx! Worst of both worlds. A lot to go wrong, expensive maintenance, only half the toll discount, more insurance and more tax. And not zero emissions, which can and should be heavily punished in future. With the 120Ah you could nearly go from anywhere in Ireland to anywhere else without charging. BMW no longer sell the REx, it is an outdated compliance car concept, no longer needed with the range of the current cars.

Diseased toe · 19-11-2020 5:35pm

I have commute of 100km each way twice a week, mostly motorway, can the 120 Ah handle that in all weathers is the question I guess.

jhegarty · 19-11-2020 5:43pm

unkel wrote: »

I don't know anything about the specs on these, maybe that is a particular car that you want? Otherwise €30k for a 2018 i3 94Ah seems a lot of money when you can buy a brand new 2021 i3 120Ah with far more range from just €36k

Mad_Lad must be busy so I will fill in.

The 2019 has a Rex but the 2021 doesn't.

Diseased toe · 19-11-2020 5:45pm

https://naasroad.frankkeanebmw.ie/used-cars/BMW/I3/i3s-120Ah/202001216400902/

Good chunk of change

unkel · 19-11-2020 5:55pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

I have commute of 100km each way twice a week, mostly motorway, can the 120 Ah handle that in all weathers is the question I guess.

From memory the WLTP range is about 310km, so should be able to do 200km motorway I would have thought. Not many (if any) owners on here of the 120Ah though but if there are, maybe they can share their experiences. Hammering it on a motorway in cold weather devastates the range of any EV.

The car I'm currently driving has a 500km WLTP range, but on the trip I made today, I would have got nowhere near that. Maybe 300km. Then again, it was fairly cold and I do like driving with a very heavy foot.

Patser · 19-11-2020 6:01pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

https://naasroad.frankkeanebmw.ie/used-cars/BMW/I3/i3s-120Ah/202001216400902/

Good chunk of change

120ah for less than what poster is thinking of paying for REX paying

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/i3/fpa/202010024506819?journey=Search

200Km All motorway..... you'd do it in a 120ah, but you'd be sweating it a bit especially in cold and might have to limit speed a lot

Gumbo · 19-11-2020 6:08pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

Can I ask peoples thiughts in this price wise?

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/I3/fpa/202008252894151

Would i better sourcing in the UK?

Nice Car.

Spec Wise it has Pro Nav System, Sun Roof, HK Surround Sound, LED Lights, Privacy Glass, Front Parking Sensors and Rear View Reverse Cam, it also has the adaptive cruise control as that's the venter button on the dash below the hazzard lights.

Interior trim is middle ground, its not base, but not top spec Leather. Wheels are base model too.

I had the same car only 161 and the 20" wheels. Sold for 20k in June of this year. I think 30k is on the high side personally.

MJohnston · 19-11-2020 6:10pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

I have commute of 100km each way twice a week, mostly motorway, can the 120 Ah handle that in all weathers is the question I guess.

I have the i3 120Ah and it could easily handle that if you leave with 100% charge.

Drive at 110kph in ECO Pro mode and you'll have nearly 100km range left at the end.

My consumption this morning on the school run, rated as 2 out of 5 in efficiency (a lot of traffic lights) had a consumption of 15.4kWh/100km. So even with that kind of accelerator heavy driving style, you'd probably have around 270km range.

Diseased toe · 19-11-2020 6:15pm

Can I ask what you would consider a must have spec wise on the i3 120Ah ?

We have a 520 M Sport as the main ICE car in the household, dream to drive but when we change the 2nd car I would love an EV

Patser · 19-11-2020 6:31pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

Can I ask what you would consider a must have spec wise on the i3 120Ah ?

We have a 520 M Sport as the main ICE car in the household, dream to drive but when we change the 2nd car I would love an EV

Reverse camera definitely - rear vision is a bit restricted

Large centre screen - the smaller screen screams cheap. Newer BMW interface a lot nicer than original.

19inch wheels are more comfy than 20in (even then can be a little bit hard on road)

I love the light and extra height sunroof gives - but that's personal taste. Same with wooden dash, it's much nicer than the standard plastic.

Parking assist is useless gimic - if you have reverse camera then this car is a doddle to park, park assist is just slow

Harmann Karmann upgrade if you have kids who'll frequently be in back, as back seats have no speakers as standard. If not, standard is fine.

Leather seats nice, if only as they get heated seat options - heated seat is very, very nice - if you do have to go eco mode, you can turn heating down but still have a warm arse.

MJohnston · 19-11-2020 6:44pm

Diseased toe wrote: »

Can I ask what you would consider a must have spec wise on the i3 120Ah ?

We have a 520 M Sport as the main ICE car in the household, dream to drive but when we change the 2nd car I would love an EV

The only must-have for me was the parking sensors and reversing camera. You can only get these as part of the Park Assist package.

There are no longer any different screen options, it's the larger one as standard now.

I also got CarPlay activation (this is now included as standard) and the wireless phone charger in the armrest.

Other than that we just went with the basic upholstery and trim.

The "Auxiliary cabin heating system" (Heat pump) is probably worth getting too, we didn't bother though.

unkel · 19-11-2020 7:42pm

Patser wrote: »

120ah for less than what poster is thinking of paying for REX paying

https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/i3/fpa/202010024506819?journey=Search

Lot of car for the money!

@MJohnston - nice choice of car and how frugal it is doesn't surprise me. People might not realise but the BMW i3 was the most efficient production car ever made, until the Ioniq came along.

MJohnston · 20-11-2020 12:00am

unkel wrote: »

Lot of car for the money!

@MJohnston - nice choice of car and how frugal it is doesn't surprise me. People might not realise but the BMW i3 was the most efficient production car ever made, until the Ioniq came along.

Yeah it's surprised me how it frequently exceeds the estimated range figures - if you drive at 100kph in Eco mode you can squeeze 300km+ out of it, which is crazy good.

Also it's a joy to drive and the visibility is excellent without being at all a bulky or tall car.

Patser · 20-11-2020 10:30am

It can be a very strange car like that alright, 140kmh in a motorway in comfort mode and watch 40km become 5km range in a 10km stretch, come off motorway put it into eco + mode and 5km range goes on to infinity, a perpetual motion machine.

unkel · 20-11-2020 11:30am

Patser wrote: »

a perpetual motion machine.

I wouldn't go that far. Only "self charging" Toyotas can do that :pac:

FirstinLastout · 09-12-2020 4:18pm

Folks,

Any difference in getting the larger screen over the smaller... tech or features wise?
Or is it largely ascetics?
The cars I'm looking at are 2016 / 2017 models?

Thanks all!

Gumbo · 09-12-2020 4:57pm

FirstinLastout wrote: »

Folks,

Any difference in getting the larger screen over the smaller... tech or features wise?
Or is it largely ascetics?
The cars I'm looking at are 2016 / 2017 models?

Thanks all!

The larger Screen is Professional Nav.
Apply Carplay may be affected depending on year of car.
Bluetooth Streaming, movie Streaming etc are all part of Enhanced Bluetooth Package that comes with the larger screen.

So yes, its visually a lot better looking and technically better to have also.

09-12-2020 5:08pm

punisher5112 wrote: »

Thought there was meant to be an expensive issue with the generator.... Could be wrong but you would want to be making sure all in good order.

Nonsense, most issues were fixed on the 64ah Rex.

Not a single issue with mine and it's 3 months shy of 4 years old and almost 101,000 Kms.

09-12-2020 5:09pm

Depends on the year, there's no movie streaming on up to the 94ah generation I don't know about the i3 that has the car play.

The media professional the one with the wider screen is blocked from playing movies but with bimmercode it can be enabled, the screen is great quality.

Gumbo · 09-12-2020 5:12pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Depends on the year, there's no movie streaming on up to the 94ah generation I don't know about the i3 that has the car play.

The media professional the one with the wider screen is blocked from playing movies but with bimmercode it can be enabled, the screen is great quality.

Yes I unlocked it with bimmercode alright.
Movie on the go also.

09-12-2020 5:19pm

unkel wrote: »

I wouldn't get a REx! Worst of both worlds. A lot to go wrong, expensive maintenance, only half the toll discount, more insurance and more tax. And not zero emissions, which can and should be heavily punished in future. With the 120Ah you could nearly go from anywhere in Ireland to anywhere else without charging. BMW no longer sell the REx, it is an outdated compliance car concept, no longer needed with the range of the current cars.

All non issues, 2 year maintenance regardless of mileage, hardly break the bank, it doesn't cost more to insure, I get it,you absolutely detest the Rex that is until you use it and avoid charging and I hardly think you care about emissions, that is funny but it's sad to see you constantly run down the rex when it's one of the most useful extras in the car.

For the People unaware and might think Unkels hatred of the Rex is valid, the Rex is very reliable, most issues were with early models, the Rex avoids fast charging queues, and fast charging altogether if you want to and it completely eliminates the extra time needed to charge a cold battery. The car can be driven anywhere any time, fill up in 8 seconds and you're on your way again, find a broken charger and it might take a long time to get home......

The only reason BMW got rid of the Rex is because they were planning to stop production and when they installed the new 120 ah battery they didn't want to pay for recertification which saved a lot of money I believe.

BTW, tesla come bottom of the pile for reliability, you're much more likely to have an issue with a tesla and out of warranty, OMG lol

09-12-2020 5:23pm

MJohnston wrote: »

Yeah it's surprised me how it frequently exceeds the estimated range figures - if you drive at 100kph in Eco mode you can squeeze 300km+ out of it, which is crazy good.

Also it's a joy to drive and the visibility is excellent without being at all a bulky or tall car.

Out of the 120 Ah yes you could squeeze 300 km in warmer weather. most I got out of my 94 ah was 220 Kms and has I think around 20 kms left but that was off the motorway on mostly local back roads.

punisher5112 · 09-12-2020 5:25pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Nonsense, most issues were fixed on the 64ah Rex.

Not a single issue with mine and it's 3 months shy of 4 years old and almost 101,000 Kms.

I wasn't stating there was was just voicing what I had heard, I don't have one so can't comment.

It's great to see it's doing so well for you would love one....

11-12-2020 1:53am

punisher5112 wrote: »

I wasn't stating there was was just voicing what I had heard, I don't have one so can't comment.

It's great to see it's doing so well for you would love one....

Indeed passing charger queues is great or when you can't be arsed waiting for charging or when the battery is cold which takes a lot longer. just fire up the Rex and off you go.

In the future it would be nice to see a hydrogen type of generator to eliminate waiting for charging also. But for now the petrol generator or Rex is a fantastic system and shame it can't run on biofuel although the Irish Government killed biofuels by thinking they could get away with applying the usual extortion taxes and it backfired, no one bothered after that.

3d4life · 11-12-2020 11:58am

Was looking at a 181 Rex yesterday. Under 30k km. Looked fresh enough except tyres. ( special size ? how much for 4 ? )

Is there a reliable VIN decoder for the I3 ?

BTW what sort of MPG do you experience when running off the generator

Gumbo · 11-12-2020 12:16pm

3d4life wrote: »

Was looking at a 181 Rex yesterday. Under 30k km. Looked fresh enough except tyres. ( special size ? how much for 4 ? )

Is there a reliable VIN decoder for the I3 ?

BTW what sort of MPG do you experience when running off the generator

Only a handful of tyres available for the i3.
I used Bridgestone which cost about €100 a corner from the UK for the 20”.
I then paid €15 a corner locally for fitting, balancing and old tyre disposal.

Any vin decoder will work. There’s loads online.

11-12-2020 3:18pm

I got the continental Eco contact 6 this time around, the bridgestones are not that good in the wet, they are C for wet the Eco 6 are A supposed to be a bit quieter too.

ewj1978 · 16-12-2020 1:08pm

same I'm on continentals. Fronts are 125 a pop on oponeo, will last 60-70k kms.
Rears are a different size and are 129 a pop and I got 40k kms out of the last 2 sets.

Sorry these are 19" rims.

ewj1978 · 16-12-2020 1:11pm

Actually got my first puncture on Monday. Hit a pothole. bye bye tyre.
No point in trying the can of sealant and the little electric pump.
Called Aviva and turned on Netflix and waited for the flatbed. Luckily I had kept the best of the last set in my shed.

vicM · 07-01-2021 1:34am

Did anyone get the KLE recall done?

jhegarty · 07-01-2021 1:52am

vicM wrote: »

Did anyone get the KLE recall done?

Yep.

vicM · 07-01-2021 1:55am

jhegarty wrote: »

Yep.

Where did you get it done?
Had mine booked at a Dublin dealer..left car in only to be told later on that some part was needed..doesn't fill me with confidence.
It's recall work, they should know what parts are needed well before I Grace their doors

BMW i3

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